Assistant Professor (Thermofluids) #0085307

Title: Assistant Professor (Thermofluids) 
Position Number(s): 0085307

Hiring Unit: College of Engineering – Mechanical Engineering

Location: Manoa

Date Posted: October 15, 2025

Closing Date: Continuous – application review begins January 15, 2026

Salary Information: Commensurate with qualifications and experience. 

Monthly Type: 9-Month

Tenure Track: Tenure

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time

Temporary/Permanent: Permanent 

Funding: General Funds

Assistant Professor (Thermofluids)(F3); Position number 0085307; the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hawai?i at Manoa (UHM), invites applications for one (1) full-time, tenure-track, Assistant Professor position (focus area: Thermal and Fluid Sciences), pending position clearance and availability of funds, to begin on August 1, 2026 or as soon thereafter as possible.

The positions are open to applicants specializing in all areas of thermal and fluid sciences within mechanical engineering. 

The Department has active research programs in thermal and fluid sciences, aerospace engineering, materials and manufacturing, mechanics, systems, controls, and biomedical engineering.  For more information on the department, please visit https://me.hawaii.edu.

The College of Engineering (CoE) offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and its undergraduate programs are Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited. For more information on the college, please visitwww.eng.hawaii.edu. 

The CoE closely collaborates with other units at the University of Hawai‘i, including John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), Cancer Research Center, Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research & Education (C-MORE), Hawai’i Natural Energy Institute (HNEI), College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), Department of Ocean and Resources Engineering (ORE), College of Natural Sciences, Hawai’i Space Flight Laboratory (HSFL), Hawai’i Institute of Geophysics & Planetology (HIGP), School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Information and Computer Sciences (ICS), Hawaii Data Science Institute (HI-DSI), Information Technology Center, College of Social Sciences, Institute for Astronomy (IfA), and Laboratory for Advanced Visualization and Applications (LAVA).

The University of Hawai?i is a Carnegie R1 (i.e., highest research activity) university and is recognized as a Land Grant, Sea Grant, Space Grant, and Sun Grant university. 

Our campus welcomes all students but given our responsibilities to the community in which we operate, as part of our strategic mission, we strive to become a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning, a place that is committed to integrating Native Hawaiian language, culture and/or values into its academic and campus environment. College of Engineering is committed to serving and affirming our unique community and culture in the center of the Pacific Ocean and to continued research excellence. 

• Teach, conduct, and develop assigned undergraduate and graduate courses and seminars, including via various distance delivery modes as required, including courses in the area of mechanical engineering and specifically in thermal and fluid sciences; 

• Develop an independent, extramurally funded research program;

• Present research works at leading conferences in the respective field and publish in leading, scholarly peer-reviewed journals

• Supervise independent research and study activities;

• Serve as an academic advisor for undergraduate and graduate students;

• Serve on the Departmental, College, and University committees;

• Render service to the professional or lay community that is relevant to the individual’s academic specialty;

• Serve on thesis and dissertation committees of candidates for advanced degrees;

• Lead and participate in mechanical engineering initiatives at the University of Hawai‘i and the UHM College of Engineering

• Perform related tasks as assigned by the Department Chair;

• Support the recruitment, retention, and graduation of all students in Engineering;

• Participate in curriculum development activities and initiatives, including efforts towards the development of curricular materials and instructional methods incorporating place-based/Hawaii-based learning to impact aerospace and mechanical engineering knowledge;

• Develop research emphasis applicable to Hawaii and Asia/Pacific region;

• Learn about and implement Native Hawaiian, Indigenous, and/or place-based principles into curriculum, programming, and work culture. 

• An earned Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, or closely related field from a college or university of recognized standing. Candidates who are All-But-Dissertation (ABD) may be considered, however, selectee at this rank must have their Ph.D. conferred by their employment start date;

• Demonstrated knowledge related to mechanical engineering research topics, specifically related to thermal and fluid sciences;

• Demonstrated experience in coursework and/or research in the areas mentioned above; 

• Demonstrated instructional ability;

• Demonstrated scholarly achievement, as evidenced by scholarly publications and/or competitive funding;

• Demonstrated strong commitment to teaching and research excellence and mentoring at the undergraduate and graduate levels and the ability to teach students from different backgrounds with various life experiences and learning styles;

• Excellent communication skills and ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with others; 

• Ability to teach graduate courses in area of specialty, as well as undergraduate courses in mechanical engineering;

• Professionalism in meeting and conferring with others.

• A teaching and research alignment to on-going research activities in the department, college and the university. These include, but not limited to, foundational research and the development of technologies for renewable energy, environmental monitoring and sustainability, transportation, thermal management and electronics, chemical and material applications, and biomedical engineering;

• Ability to collaborate with other leading research units within UH System, such as Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI), School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP), and John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM).

Click on the “Apply” button on the top right corner of the screen to complete an application and attach required documents to the online application.

The applicant should submit (1) a cover letter specifying the position and the research area(s); (2) a curriculum vitae detailing research and teaching accomplishments; (3) a statement on research interests, activities, and plans; (4) a statement on teaching philosophy, interests, and plans; and (5) the names, addresses, e-mail, and telephone numbers of at least four (4) professional references (for short listed applicants, the committee will solicit letters of recommendation from these professional references). Finalists must be prepared to submit unofficial copies of graduate transcripts of terminal degree. Official transcripts or equivalent will be required prior to employment.

All applications received prior to January 15, 2026 will receive full consideration, but the review process will continue until the position is filled. Applications will continue to be accepted, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

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Dr. Yi Zuo (email: yzuo@hawaii.edu), Chair of the Screening Committee.

The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status.  For more information, visit:  https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/policies/

 Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.
 
 In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.
 
 
 Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/